Wednesday, November 07, 2007

RUDY GIULIANI

Gary Bauer Reacts To Robertson's Endorsement of Giuliani

I just spoke with Gary Bauer, president of American Values, past president of the Family Research Council (and a presidential candidate himself, back in 2000) about his thoughts on Pat Robertson endorsing Rudy Giuliani.

“I did have some sense it was going to happen, so I wasn’t completely surprised,” Bauer said. “Those leaders who are endorsing are going through the same thought process that a lot of conservatives around the country are wrestling with, which is that whatever one thinks about the field, it’s clear to everybody that a Hillary Clinton presidency with Democratic control of the House and Senate would be a disaster no matter what kind of conservative you are.”

“Pat Robertson has a loyal following, and I’m sure his endorsement will influence them. He has spoken highly of [Giuliani]during this process, and had him on [his television] show a few times. What the full impact is, we’ll have to see.”

Despite the expectations of some pundits, it seems increasingly clear that social conservatives won’t be swarming around one candidate – Richard Land  and Tony Perkins have praised Thompson, Bob Jones III and Paul Weyrich back Romney, the FRC straw poll attendees went strongly for Huckabee, Sam Brownback just backed McCain, and now Robertson threw his weight behind Rudy.

“We will continue to see leaders go off in a variety of directions…. I suspect in this cycle endorsements will mean even less and performance in the primaries will mean even more.”

When the Republican nominee is chosen, will social conservatives be able to patch up their differences and unite behind that nominee?

“We’ve made a real effort to try to avoid the passions that inevitably result in a political year,” Bauer said. “We all believe it’s important for the entire coalition to come together behind a candidate - not just social conservatives but foreign policy and economic conservatives to come together at the end of this process. I think at the grassroots level, the supporters will probably be more passionate and more likely to get really crosswise with each other. But we’re hoping at the end of it although many of us will be backing different candidates, we all will close ranks.”

Could social conservative close ranks behind Rudy Giuliani?

“He’s the toughest candidate to do that on. It would require a sell job that goes beyond anything he’s done up until now. It probably would mean very specific assurances on a handful of key things that people that would want to know, beyond a shadow of a doubt. But I think it can be done.”

I asked Bauer if he would be making an endorsement.

“I’ve been literally working with all of the candidates on a variety of their positions trying to get them more solid on the things we’ve cared about… As soon as I endorse one, six doors will slam in my face, and the one I endorse will probably turn out to be an ingrate!” he said with a laugh.

11/07 01:32 PMShare